Former Macy's stylists Sheila Taylor, left; Robin Gonzales, left of center; and Mattie Haacke, center, stand with Jan's Hair Design owner Janice Heimbach, right of center, and her daughter Lindsey Heimbach inside Jan's Hair Design in Port Huron March 1. When Macy's in the Birchwood Mall announced that it was closing, Heimbach reached out and offered the stylists a place to work. (Photo: Brian M. Wells/Times Herald)Buy Photo

"I just called and basically let them know that I had chairs open," Heimbach said. "I just knew that they were going to be looking for a place and had experience."

The stylists rent their chairs at the salon and have brought their clients with them. Heimbach purchased the business in September 2017 from Norbert Alexander, who runs Norbert Alexander Hair Design & Day Spa in St. Clair. Alexander still comes up to Jan's Hair Design twice a week to serve his Port Huron clients, Heimbach said. Heimbach had worked for Alexander for 30 years before buying the business.

Stylist Mattie Haacke had been at the Macy's location for about five years when she heard the Fort Gratiot location would be closing. She and the other stylists, Robin Gonzales and Sheila Taylor, had worked at Macy's under the umbrella of salon company PureBeauty, which rented space in the department store.

When PureBeauty heard that Macy's was closing, it decided it would not try to relocate the Macy's team, Haacke said. Haacke, Gonzales and Taylor would have to find their own way.

Jan's Hair Design was not the first salon to contact the Macy's team, Haacke said. They decided to make it their new home. Their last day at Macy's was on Feb. 16 and they started at Jan's Hair Design on Feb. 21.

Gonzales had been the manager at the Macy's salon for 15 of her 21 years there. She said she welcomes the step down from a management role and likes the new space.

"I don't have those responsibilities anymore; it's nice to just do hair," Gonzales said.

Taylor had been at Macy's for 10 years and has done hair for 41 years.

"I've been to a lot of salons and this one seems a little more relaxed, at home," Taylor said.

The addition of the new stylists allowed the salon to expand its services, it now offers nail work and pedicures, Heimbach said. The salon's waxing room has been converted into a private pedicure room. Heimbach said she hopes the salon's selection of Aveda and Matrix products will also serve as a draw.

In August 2016, Macy's announced the impending closure of about 100 of its stores. On Jan. 3, 2018, the company announced that the Macy's in Fort Gratiot's Birchwood Mall would be among those affected.